Stroud names valedictorians and salutatorians for 2022
Stroud High School has named its top students of the 2022 senior graduating class. The school’s valedictorians are KayLyn Baker, Madison Williams, and Jacob Smith and the salutatorian is Justin Otto.
These students’ achievements were recognized at Stroud High School’s commencement ceremony, 7 p.m., Friday, May 20, at the Rt. 66 Coliseum.
KayLyn Baker
The daughter of Chad and Kimberly Baker, Valedictorian KayLyn Baker has attended Stroud Schools for 13 years and holds a 4.0 grade point average.
A recipient of numerous athletic awards, Baker has been named Basketball All-Conference Honorable Mention in 2022, Fastpitch All-State Outfielder in 2021, Fastpitch All Region in 2021, Fastpitch All District-7 Outfielder in 2021, Fastpitch Route 66 All-Conference in 2021, Class 2A Girls’ Track State Runner-Up in 2021, State Qualifier in pole vault, 3200m relay, and 1600m relay in 2021, Cass 2A Track State Runner-Up in 1600m relay in 2021.
She received the Distinguished Academic Achievement Award for Girls Track in 2021, and was named Bison (Oklahoma Baptist University) Track & Field Invitational Small School Girls’ Team Champions in 2021, Track Team Award - Junior MVP in 2021, Class 4A Slowpitch Softball District Champions in 2021, Slowpitch Route 66 All-Conference and Slowpitch Team Award - Defensive MVP, both in 2021.
In 2020-2021, Baker was on Stroud’s Class 2A basketball team that won districts, placed as runnerup at regionals, and qualified for its area tournament.
In 2020, she played on the Class 2A Fastpitch team which placed as Semi-State Finalists, Regional Champions, and District Champions. Baker was named Fastpitch All-District, Fastpitch Route 66 All-Conference, and received the Fastpitch Team Award-Most Improved.
Baker qualified for state in 2020 for Class 2A Cross Country.
In 2019-2020, she was recipient of the Basketball Team Award - Heart and Hustle, helping the team to take the Class 2A Basketball District championship.
Baker is a member of both Oklahoma and National Honor Societies and was named Region 2 Female Scholar Athlete.
She also participated in Student Council; Junior Chamber of Commerce; Family, Career and Community Leaders of America; and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Her service to the community includes working concessions for school activities, reading to prekindergarten students through Reading Buddies and donating socks for veterans. She worked at community events such as the Downtown Trick or Treat and the Christmas Parade.
After graduation, Baker plans to complete two years at Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa before transferring to the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. Her goal is to earn a bachelor’s degree in criminology or criminal justice working toward a career as a criminal investigator or police detective.
Jacob Smith
Jacob Smith, the son of Terrance Smith, has attended Stroud schools since third grade. He holds a 4.0 GPA and is a member of the National Technical Honor Society and the National Honor Society. He was consistently listed on the Superintendent’s Honor Roll.
Smith is a recipient of both the President’s Leadership Class and the College of Engineering Architecture and Technology scholarships at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.
He was a member of Student Council and the SHS Band. He served on the SHS Academic Team and was a member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce. He also participated in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America.
Smith was involved in the community through Little Gifts Big Hearts, an organization that provides baskets to families while their children are in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit during Christmas. The baskets include handmade blankets, restaurant gift cards, hot chocolate, mugs, and uplifting worship CDs.
He also volunteered for the Junior Chamber of Commerce Wine Festival and was a disc jockey for the JCC Winter Formal.
Following graduation, Smith will attend OSU working toward a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering with a minor in nuclear engineering.
Madison Williams
Madison Williams, the daughter of Shannon Williams and Sheila Pritchett, has attended Stroud schools for 13 years.
A participant in the SHS Gifted and Talented Program, she holds a 4.0 GPA. She is a National Honor Society member and was on the Superintendent’s Honor Roll all four years of high school.
Williams played fastpitch and slow-pitch softball helping her teams to achieve Class 2A Regional Champions for two years in fast-pitch and Class 4A District Champions in slow-pitch for two years.
She was involved in SHS Pom and was named Universal Dance Association All-American for two years. Williams helped the squad achieve pom hiphop state champions and academic all-state. She was pom kick state runner-up for three years.
She also participated in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America; Junior Chamber of Commerce, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Student Council.
Williams did volunteer work for Halloween on Main Street, The Glow Run, and Stroud Christmas Parade. She worked concession stands for school activities and helped out with the Stroud Little League Softball Tournament and OK Kids Softball Tournament. She served at Vacation Bible School for Stroud First United Methodist Church and the chili dinner and wine festival for the Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to schoolwork and extracurricular activities, Williams has worked at Stroud Drug for four years as a clerk/support personnel. After she graduates, her future plans are to study pharmacy at Southestern Okalhoma State University in Weatherford.
Justin Otto
Salutatorian Justin Otto is the son of Kristi Walsh and Kevin Otto.
He has attended Stroud schools since the fourth grade. He finished his high school years with a 3.94 GPA.
Otto maintained a spot on the Superintendent’s Honor Roll for six semesters. He is a member of the National Honor Society.
He participated in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America; and the Junior Chamber of Commerce.
Following graduation, Otto plans to attend the University of Oklahoma in Norman to study business.